Holy crap. What the hell was that?
She had seen goblins in the arena, but they were different up close. This one was as tall as she was though it had to outweigh her by a hundred pounds. Like the little brownies who were so helpful, the goblin had a head of scraggly, wiry hair. This one’s hair was black, and his leathery skin had a distinctly green cast to it. His eyes were large as though he spent most his time in the darkness. They were pitch black and seemed a little dead to Meg, reminding her of a snake’s eyes. His mouth was the largest feature on his triangular face. It was filled with razor-sharp teeth. He wore only a small animal skin around his waist, and Meg found herself very grateful for the attempt at modesty.
“I love to eat sidhe,” the goblin grumbled, the words tangling around his teeth. He scented the air with the holes in the middle of his face that seemed to pass for nostrils. “And something else. You aren’t sidhe, girl.”
Cian tried to pull her behind him, but that seemed like running to Meg. She had read an awful lot, and running was a good way to get oneself chased down and eaten by a predator. There were times when boldness was called for. If she was the Queen, then she should start acting like one. And maybe Beck’s name would come in handy. Everyone seemed to be afraid of him.
“I’m human, goblin,” Meg said, keeping her voice steady. “And I’m Beckett and Cian Finn’s wife.”
The goblin did not look impressed. “So the boys finally found a mate, did they? I’m sure my king will be very interested in that bit of news. Unfortunately for you, you brought the wrong brother to our camp, little girl. If you’re going to greet the goblins, you should have brought the warrior with you. As it is, I’ll tell my king all about the brothers getting married and then me eating one of them.”
He looked ready to do it, too. His clawed hands twitched dangerously.
“I want you to run,” Cian whispered into her ear. “Run and don’t look back.”
He was such a drama queen. The goblin, on the other hand, was a big old bully. She gambled. She walked straight up to the goblin, and using her thumb and middle finger, she thwacked him on his sensitive-looking nostrils. According to many a nature documentary, it worked on sharks. The goblin howled and took two steps back.
“There. Now we’re starting to understand each other.” She looked at the small flask on his hip. “Is that what I think it is?”
The goblin pulled the flask out. He held it in one hand as he protected his nose with the other. He wasn’t so scary now. “It is mine. You would not like it. Sidhe do not like our liquors.”
Meg stalked the goblin. “I told you before, goblin. I’m not sidhe.”
With a curious expression, he handed her the flask. “It is strong, I warn you.”
Meg wiped the rim with the towel she’d placed on the basket of cookies. She wasn’t sure, but she suspected goblins were probably dirty. It didn’t matter once that smell hit her. Heavenly coffee. It was still warm. Meg tipped the flask and drank it down in one long gulp. It wasn’t even as strong as an espresso.
“Strong, my ass,” she said with genuine relief. “It isn’t strong, goblin, but it will do. I’m going to need more. Take me to your leader, or whoever the hell can negotiate a little trade agreement.”
The goblin’s face approximated a version of friendly. He still looked like he wanted to eat her, but he was obviously impressed with her as well. He looked at Cian who was openly gaping at his bride. “Have the Seelies finally found a decent queen?”
Cian walked forward and took her hand once more. “Remember that she is the Queen.”
The goblin scratched his belly and gestured around the forest. “I don’t think she’s the queen of much yet, sidhe.”
“She is my wife and my brother’s wife.” Cian seemed much surer now. “That is all that matters. Beckett Finn might have lost his throne, but he did not lose his sword. Remember that, unless you want to feel it in your back when he avenges her.”
Meg smiled fiercely. She walked up to the goblin. “Beck won’t need to avenge me, Ci. Goblin Boy and I have an understanding. Don’t we?”
The goblin bowed, but only slightly. “Yes, Your Highness. I have come to realize you are insane and a little vicious, and you can handle your liquor. I respect that. Come, the chief will be interested in meeting you.”
Cian’s hand tightened around hers. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “He is right about the insane part, my lover. I hope goblins like cookies, or you might find yourself being eaten as a snack.”
She grinned and leaned back to her nervous hubby. It was time to give him a reason to believe they would live. “Ci, I’m saying yes tonight.”
Cian gave her a short, hard kiss and then pulled her along to follow the goblin. “Let’s get this over with, then. Tonight starts early today, my lover, and I promise I’m the only thing eating you this day.” The goblin was looking back at them. Cian’s face became gorgeously arrogant. “Lead on, goblin. I want to get this over with. I’ve got better things to do with my day.”
Three hours later, the chief of the goblin clan burped and slapped Cian on the shoulder. He was incredibly drunk. “Tell that brother of yours we’re ready to negotiate.” It came out in a low growl. The goblin’s eyes were watery, but serious. His hand reached out and tugged on Cian’s shirt. “But I have to ask you to leave your queen at home. She is unreasonable.”
Cian wanted to laugh, but was diplomatic enough to keep his face straight. He looked into the goblin chief’s eyes and tried to convey a kingly presence. “I can’t promise you anything. The queen is formidable, as you have seen. I can only promise that you will get your ten dozen cookies tomorrow.”
“I’ll have them ready, damn it,” Meg said irritably.
She clutched the two pounds of coffee grounds she’d gotten for her basket of cookies. She was jittery because she had sat with the goblin chieftain, matching him shot for shot until the goblin had finally fallen out of his chair.
Cian had been amazed at how much she could drink. Somewhere in there, the goblin chief had asked for her hand in marriage. Cian had been forced to pull a knife to persuade the chief that he wasn’t willing to give up his claim on his wife.
“Make sure you do.” The goblin chief looked longingly at the empty basket.
The cookies had gone quickly. After the first had been tried, negotiations had begun at a swift pace. Meg had been hard-nosed. Cian had actually felt a little bad for the goblins. He could have told them that Meg had a backbone of pure steel.
She had held out for two pounds of coffee, a bolt of some sort of blue fabric she called satin, a six-pack of something she called Dr Pepper, and a pair of brown boots she said reminded her of Uggs. Cian didn’t know what Uggs were, but the boots looked warm. Altogether, it had been a phenomenally good deal.
Cian would have been really impressed if he hadn’t been so damn sexually frustrated. His wife handled the goblins with pure diplomatic grace. She had known when to be charming and when to beat the goblins over the head with her fists. She had negotiated to give the goblins a second shipment of cookies in exchange for a set of sheets. She was very excited about the thread count. Cian didn’t know what that meant. The other part of the deal was something she had designated as a player to be named later. Again, nothing Cian understood, but if it got him out of these caves and into her bed, he would support the deal all day long.
He was supposed to be the intellectual half. He should have been extremely interested in the negotiations. But today, he couldn’t take his eyes off his wife’s breasts. He was going to see them, touch them, get them in his mouth. His cock swelled again, and Cian had had enough.